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OUR COVID RESPONSE

Safety is our priority

Like every other business, Covid-19 has changed the way we work.​

 

As dedicated healthcare professionals, it is important to us that we keep our workplace safe, including

  • our patients, many of whom fall into vulnerable categories

  • our reception, nursing and administration staff, some of whom fall into vulnerable categories

  • the doctors and allied health care workers, some of whom fall into vulnerable categories

  • our families, as we all have vulnerable family members

The practice has enhanced cleaning measures and also installed hospital grade air purifiers.  We request everyone coming to the practice to wear a well fitted surgical mask or equivalent.

So, what does this mean?

Effective immediately, we are offering the following consultations by telehealth (phone and/or video) only, with face-to-face options to be decided on an individual basis after the telehealth visit.
 

  • all consultations with unvaccinated people

  • you are among the most vulnerable people we will be caring for, and it matters to us that you are protected

  • you are also at an increased risk of transmitting Covid-19 to others, and it matters to us that they are protected 

  • all consultations where there are respiratory symptoms

  • if you have cold or flu symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, tonsillitis, headache, runny nose, post nasal drip or sneezing even if you think/know this is your asthma, allergies or hay fever, we will continue to provide medical care for you, but via telehealth as we simply can’t risk potentially exposing our waiting room, our staff and ourselves to Covid-19

  • if it becomes clear to your doctor that you need to be examined, they will advise you on how to do this safely - it may be considered safe enough to have you come into the practice or it may involve a consultation in the car park, referral to a GP Respiratory Clinic or the closest emergency department

  • this includes young children, who often get coughs and colds. We will work with parents on safer ways to examine sick children

  • unless specifically directed to do so by your GP, if you come into the surgery despite being unvaccinated or with symptoms, you will be asked to leave

Zero tolerance for abuse

We appreciate that these are difficult times, however abuse of any kind is not acceptable​

If you abuse our staff, the doctors or allied health workers, you will be asked to leave. We may ask you to find a new medical clinic.

If you have been diagnosed with Covid, the infection

We will continue to be a part of your healthcare team and ask that you help us to help you by reading and using this resource I have Covid, the infection.  Now what?​

If you are unvaccinated, have had only one vaccine, are severely immunocompromised or pregnant, please let us know ASAP (book an urgent telehealth consultation) as there are specific management pathways we may need to facilitate


Depending upon the severity of your case, your vaccination status and your underlying vulnerabilities, care may be offered to you in hospital, in a QHealth funded hospital-in-the-home model (you are looked after at home by a QHealth hospital based team who may or may not visit you at home) or you may be asked to check in with your GP.


We will be working with QHealth on ways to care for our existing patients

  • we simply do not have capacity to take on new patients for Covid-19 care​

If you are being looked after by a QHealth team, Medicare does not pay for your consultations with us

  • this does not mean that you can’t have a consultation with your GP, just that you will have to pay for it and there won’t be any Medicare rebate to help offset the cost

  • if you are cared for by QHealth, there will come a time where they will discharge you from their care and we will pick up from there​

If you are well enough not to require a QHealth response, but looking for advice, please let us know so that we can help you

  • please take the time to read through the information on I have Covid, the infection.  Now what? and commence the Symptom Diary

  • all consultations will be done via telehealth

  • if we need to escalate care to face-to-face, we will be able to direct you to an appropriate resource, such as a GP Respiratory Clinic or emergency department​

​If you have tested positive for Covid via a rapid antigen test within the last 14 days, please report this to the QLD Government via this online form

​

If you have recovered from a Covid-19 infection

Once you have recovered from Covid-19 infection, we request you to refrain from coming to the practice for 14 days and instead call the clinic to arrange a Telehealth appointment.

 

As you may have lingering symptoms such as a cough, we ask you to book telehealth appointments initially and then be guided by advice from your GP​.

 

We have seen repeat infections with this virus and expect more variants to emerge, so please be aware it is possible to get another Covid-19 infection, just as you can get multiple cold or flu infections.